Choosing a College Thats Right for You: A How-To Guide for College-Bound Teens

Step 1: Find out what you would like to study or a college principal.
Yes, many students enter college “as an impartial,” and that is fine, but if you have some idea of a career or a career, that knowledge can help you find colleges that offer (and even focus on) that field. You may want to try some of these job tests to help you with this step. You can also read our article, Choosing College Major: How to Get Married in Your Right Way.

Step 2: Make a list of methods you want to use to evaluate and exclude colleges.
Do you want to stay close to home, or away? Are you looking for a great university or a small college? What about costs? Here is a list of standard procedures:

degrees provided
big / small
location (rural or urban area) / distance from home
Student size (from smallest to 1,000 to maximum of 35,000+)
public vs. private
costs (tuition, room and board, etc.)
financial aid packages
college resources (labs, libraries, computer access, etc.)
completion rate / time
success of placement / training and co-op programs
authorization
class size
communication skills / classes taught full-time medical wisdom
quality / reputation / quality
the degree of pressure of prominence
security (compass, community)
student body (diversity, gender, etc.)
social life (Greek organizations, sports, school spirit, etc.)
religious involvement / independence
housing options (stalls, apartments, living at home)
expected entry (depending on the average student allowed)
Step 3: Compile a list of possible colleges and universities.
At least with some idea of the process that is important to you, start the collection section. You can find college information in books, such as The Fiske Guide to Colleges, which you can find among other college textbooks in our Teen Books section. One is used by college-related websites, such as TheAdmissionsOffice.com. Find that Website, and many others, in our Youth College Planning Resources. You will also find suggestions from family, friends, and high school teachers and counselors. You should also consider going to college shows, where you can meet with school representatives, and collect important books.

Step 4: Gather all your sources of information about each school you think of.
If you do not have all the information you need for a particular college, you should consider visiting the college website. And many colleges offer some campus tours, so you can get the first taste of the look and feel of the college from your PC.

Step 5: Use the criteria set out in step 2 to reduce your college listing to a tangible number.
This number will vary greatly between young people and their families, depending on how many you and your family can actually visit. Most experts suggest reducing the list to 10 or less, but we know some students who had nearly 20 colleges after completing this step.

Step 6: Visit the colleges on your list from Step 5.
The best way to experience college feelings is to visit the campus, visit, meet students, go to class, read campus newspaper, eat at a restaurant, and spend the night in a dorm (if possible). You have to feel "at home" in a place where you will spend the next four years of your life, so travel is important. For more information and tips, read our article, How to Help More Effectively on Your Campus. If some of the schools on your list are too far away to take a trip, at least take a visual tour of the campus and try to talk to people who have attended the school so that they can experience it. CampusTours.com (listed on our Youth Training College resources) is a great place for visual travel links and Websites.

Step 7: Apply to schools that performed the cut after the first six steps.
How many applications should you apply? Of course, this decision depends in part on your financial situation (because most colleges have application fees), but most teens usually work in one or two schools or "reach" schools (where they have less chance of admission based on actual admission process tests), two to four schools where they want to. to go there (and they can expect to be accepted), and one “safety” school (where they are an application for admission). But you need to choose the number and type that is right for you; some people do not enroll in safety schools, while others work in only the best schools that have been cut from the first six steps.

Step 8: While waiting to hear a response from the colleges you applied for, start hitting books or the Web to get students (if you need them).
We list some of the best in both our youth book section and in our Young Financial Services section.

Step 9: Make a final selection among the host schools.
If you have applied for financial aid, consider the offer. If the school you want to attend gives you a little help, you should consider contacting the school and making an objection and see what happens; many schools are more willing to negotiate the area.